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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Yes. In Hong Kong, we have a lot of favourable conditions for the staging of international events. Our conditions are unmatched by many other cities. Henceforth, we should take the initiative to devise our future direction. We should target changing Hong Kong to an Asian or even international sports activity centre. We can set concrete aims to host a certain number of competitions per year so as to attract a certain number of foreign teams and professional athletes or even spectators from overseas. Whether we can realise the above direction and aim depends on the cooperation of various parties. As the statutory body to manage sports venues, this Council is duty-bound to promote and increase the usage rate of our venues. The Department should keep close liaison with various national sports associations so as to encourage them to compete for hosting large-scale events in Hong Kong. At the same time, the Department can study the possibility of staging comprehensive events such as the sports meet for industrial and commercial organisations, the Masters Games, international sports festivals, etc., so as to promote the development of our tourist industry.
Mr. Chairman, I so move.
MR. TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion moved by Mr. Ronnie WONG.
Ms. CARLYE TSUI WAI-LING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to hear of Mr. Ronnie WONG's motion. The purpose of the motion is to make the best use of this Council's venues for the benefit of the public and to assist in promoting tourism as a means to revive our economy. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong thinks the motion is worth our support.
Mega international sports events like the Olympics, the Asian Games, World Cup Football take the world into a spin. Certain smaller recreational events and sports competitions, such as the International Rugby Sevens, also have their international appeal. The Rugby Sevens makes Hong Kong famous and brings economic profits for us too. The success of events like this is established over a period of time through the cooperation and support of different parties. Rugby Sevens has now become a tradition in Hong Kong.
We may not be suitably prepared for events like the Olympics or Asian Games, but it would not be difficult for us to support mega recreational events and make them international fads. Regional and international competitions are held for many sports items. There are also regional or international sports festivals like the Masters Games, sports demonstrations, and so on. We should compete to act as hosts to these.
Many of our sports facilities, like the Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong Coliseum, Queen Elizabeth Stadium, and various indoor and outdoor sports venues, are up to international sports standards. They should be fully utilised.